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Lester made our pick in the 2025 SB Nation Writers’ Mock Draft!
In case you missed it, I managed to trade back from the tenth overall pick in our 2025 SB Nation Writers’ Mock Draft with the Denver Broncos for their first-rounder (20th overall), their 2025 second-round pick (51st), and their 2026 fifth-round pick. Shout out to Denver’s Mock GM Scotty Payne, Senior Writer at Mile High Report, for making the deal.
To catch you up, here’s the SB Nation Mock Draft story stream on how the mock draft has gone so far, and here’s where I went in the mock...
With the 20th pick in the 2025 SB Nation Mock Draft, the Chicago Bears select Ohio State offensive lineman Josh Simmons.
The knee injury definitely gives me pause, but all reports have him ahead of schedule and a likely training camp participant. If he weren’t injured, he’d be pushing for the top offensive lineman in the draft with LSU’s Will Campbell and Missouri’s Armand Membou. So if his medicals check out, and teams can vet the recent maturity questions that have surfaced, he’ll be picked in the back half of the first round.
Here’s what our lead draft analyst, Jacob Infante, told me about Simmons.
Given the Bears’ trade back in this scenario, this would be a great outcome to get a player like Josh Simmons at No. 20. He’s a tremendous athlete at left tackle with top-notch body control and good strike placement. Given his injury history, he might be a little bit of a reach at No. 10. However, as a pick at No. 20 that comes along with an additional second-round pick, Simmons would be a great addition.
SB Nation’s Michael Peterson said, “I love this pick for the Bears, who are going all in on Caleb Williams in Year 2.”
Here’s more of what Peterson had to say at SB Nation.
Analysis: Even after the Bears added three new offensive lineman during this year’s free agency period, they continue to rebuild the offensive line for Caleb Williams by nabbing Simmons, who only fell this far due to an injury that took most of his 2024 season. Otherwise, we may be talking about him as the top tackle in this draft class.
Simmons made the move from San Diego State to Ohio State and pretty much hit the ground running. He’s a very athletic, easy-moving block with fluid footwork to mirror rushers and get to his landmarks. In the run game, he provides a strong pop on double-team blocks which help uproot defenders before he glides to the second level and envelops another defender. He’s a fun watch on film because it’s so evident just how good he is and likely will be at the next level.
Simmons is an athletic 6’5’’, 317-pounder, and like most offensive linemen at the NFL Combine this year, his arms checked in longer at his pro day. The Combine had him at 33”, and while there...
